Combined brief and overnight case



April 8, 1947. s. H. LIFTON COMBINED BRIEF AND OVERNIGHT CASE Filed April 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l April s, 1947.` s H I ,FTON 2,418,589

COMBINED BRIEF AND OVERNIGHT CASE n Filed April 9, 1946 4. Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY April 8, 194'?. s. H. Lit-TON COMBINED BRIEF AND OVERNIGHT CASEl Filed April 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet v3 fumi INVENTR F7 SM ATTORNEY April 8, 1947. s. H. LlFToN COMBINED BRIEF AND OVERNIGHT." CASE Filed April 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 8l, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE` COD/@INED BRIEF AND OVERNIGHT CASE Samuel H. Litton, New York, N. Y. Application April 9, 1946, Serial No. 660,660

(Cl. 19u- 44) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a composite brief case and suit case, and has for its object the provision of a compact and attractive carrying case or bag having a novel compartment arrangement in which a suit may be carried substantially free from wrinkling, together with other compartments for papers and the like, the case being particularly useful as an overnight bag. Another object of the invention is the provision of an article carrying bag having the convenient expandible features of a brief case together with a compartment provided with means for carrying a suit substantially free fromH wrinkling. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a serviceable article carrying bag structure of the same general type as a brief caseprovided with a number of compartments including a compartment for carrying a suit or other articles of clothing substantiallyfree from wrinkling, the latter compartment having closure means independent of that for the other compartments, the bag being of simple and durable construction and having a neat and futuristic appearance. Other objects, advantages; and functional and structural features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one side of the composite brief and Suit case according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the other side of the brief and suit case.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the closure flap in an opened relation to provide access lto the garment concealing envelope.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the envelope opened.

Fig. 5 is a vertical and transverse sectional view taken through the mid-section of the case on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, however, with the cloto Fig. 5 showing'the Figis a plan 4view showing the garment con-A .cealing envelope as it appears when opened, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary and front View of Fig. 3, however with the envelope removed;

The composite brief and suit case generally denoted Ill is formed with a front panel II and a rear panel I2, each of relatively heavy and durable leather. These panels are interconnected preferably by an intervening contractible and eXpandible leather bellows or gusset I3 comprising a foldable bottom wall I4 and end walls I5, the latter being secured to the side margins of the front and rear panels by `lines of stitching I6, Figs. 1 and 2, and to the lower horizontal margins of the panels by stitching Il.

For strengthening purposes the vertical and lower horizontal margins of the panels are provided with metal reinforcing bars I8 appropriately secured to the inside vertical faces between the lines of stitching I6 and 2I (and to the lower margins of the panels between the lines of stitching I 'I and 20.'

A collapsible metal frame generally denoted 22 (Fig. '7)` is attached to the upper margins of the panels Il and I2 and the gusset I3. The frame 22 comprises leather covered yokes 23 and 2Q having their arms 25 and 25 pivotally connected by the Shanks of rivets 28 carried by the outside frame 26, the frames being adapted to be collapsed or folded for the purpose of closing the case. On closing the case the outer yoke 24 closely but removably receives the inner yoke 23, the medial upper portions 29 of the gusset being free of the yokes 23 and 24 to permit one yoke to nest within the other without interference from the gusset.

Spaced partitions 3B and 2| extend longitudinally of the inner general compartment defined by the side walls provided by the gusset I3 and the spaced panels II and I2. These partitions which divide the case into three compartments orv pockets 38, 39 and 69 are disposed and secured to outwardly projecting creases or loops 40.

When the case is closed, ordinarily the three pockets would be collapsed, as shown in Fig. 5. By means of spreaders,`the pockets 38 and 39 may be appreciably extended. For this purpose, ,swingable spreaders 4| and 42 are employed. Each cf thesespreaders has a relatively stii body 43 covered rby a flexible casing M. The spreader 4I has its iiexible casing 44 secured along one edge thereof to the panel I2 `and gusset I3 by the stitching VI'I` and 20, theV spreader-thus being `swingable along `the line of stitching` 2U. The other spreader 42 is swingably attached by the line ofl stitching 20 to the lower margin of partition 3| and an associated loop 20' The swingable spreaders 4I and 42 are substantially coexten'sive with the length of the inner compartment formed by the gusset and the panels and are normally held in vertical position by the inwardly bulging portions dl and M of the sides v l5 of the gusset I3.

The spreaders 4I and 42 may be swung downwardly to lie at least in part against the expandible bottomwall VIII when it is Vdesired to -extend the capacity ofthe 'compartments 33 and 39. When the spreaders are swung downwardly, they provide additional reinforcement to the gusset, preventing sagging thereof when heavilyloaded, and they also permit the case to stand upright when set down,

Interconnecting the panel I2 and thegpartition 3l is an inclined closure 50, preferablyof leather. Specifically this closure has its lower margin except for its end portions or folds 52 and 53 (Fig. 11) secured bythe lines of stitching 5I to the uppermargin of the partition 3l. However 1theientire length .of Vthe upper margin of the .biasedfclosureii is secured by the'linev of stitchingfZ v.traversing the covering 2li of the yoke 24 and .the `lower part of the ,keeper carrying swingable flapF (Figlal. The .end .and vertical margins of the ,closure'll are secured tothe vertical Vmargins of panel .I2 by the lines of .stitching [|16 and .2;I. .By having the end portions -52 and 153 (Figs. .Tand l'l) .detached 'from partition `3 I, they provide folds, permitting the,.portions vof the gusset I'3between .thepanel I2 and the partitionI `to be distended or contracted as desired. Or .in other Words, Lthe .closure .EQ may be said to have reliefmeansto ,permittlie expansion or contraction of compartment 38.

Appreciably interrupting the panel 52 is the ,relativelylarge opening adapted to be closedV by the swingable flap or closure means 5.5 lintegral with panel l2. The flapii'is spaced from the vertical rows ofstitching it and'EI securing the panel 12 .to the gusset .I3 leaving vertical marginal ,strips 5.7 and 5 8 (FigfB) merged with the .curvedmarginal areas 'ligand Si! of ,panel I2. These marginal lportions are designedto overlie ,the marginal portions of thetrclatively .thin and .light weightexibleenvelone Orbag 65 and thus fprovideappropriate means .for retainingthe envelope .in p osition.- vparticularly L before the swingableapis closed. Attachedto the marginal yportions `5I-.80 of Vpanel12 'isa Stringer of slide .fastenervjaws 5t. Also attached to the marginal -portions of the swingable flap or closure `55is `a l Stringer rof vcompanion slide fastener 'jaws L61.

/A .slider 62 is `utilized 'tointerlock thefjaws, thus .removably locking lthe fiap' .tosustain its;clos ing relation topanel I2, Y

`The "flexible envelope 65 (Fig. 1.0) '-has wings .t iand .provided with reinforcedbinding strips "6B and` sewnto ,themargins thereof,the wings .being secured '.to `a vbody ,portion or backing iii `by r ows ofstitching 'I 'I by .which-a further bind- .'ing'lZ is also .attached to .the body portion and alsoabout the edges ofbottom iiap 'i3 and a top vflap '.1'4. The side .wings dit' and t7 `fold -across lthebody portion 'iii substantially along a line denedby the binding 'i2 and stitching la' i. In closing of vthe 'envelope, the swingable wings et F,and 61 are 'first swung inwardly and towards the backing f'iii. Thereafter the wings ar-ein overlap-ping relation and are disengageabiy held ,tojgether "byltheoompanion snapiastener elements 15 'and "16. Two 'female elements "i6 `are shown and these are employed severally, depending .upon the bulk of the garment to be enclose'dby the envelope. The bottom fiap 'I3 is then swung upwardly while the top iiap 'i4 Vis swung over a portion of the bottom ap 'I3 to which it may be fastened by a snap fastener member TI cooperating with any one of the complementary spaced snap fastener members I8 on the bottom flap in accordance with the amount of clothing placed in the envelope.

'Sustained by the biased closure 50 tis'the garment hanger or supportingand retaining means generally designated 30 removably carried by the hook 8l fastened by rivet S2 to the biased flexible closure 59. The hanger may be said to embody complementary hanger members generally indicated 83 and at. The garment is supported by the hanger member 83 and is retained on the latter by the hanger member 34.

The,hanger members 83 and 8G are swingably related or connected and the former is a one piece wirecomprising a cross bar 85, .vertical sides iii and the inclined arms tl' each terminating in an eye or bearing .88 loosely and rotatably surrounding the hanger member 8d at'horizontal .portions Stof the LJ shaped or vindented portions Sii merged with the horizontal portions 9| integral with the inclined arms 92 common to the bridge or crossbar 93.

Extending inwardly 'from the .U shaped portions`90 are the horizontal limbs e4 merging with inverted U shapedportion or crown dii-adapted to be hooked on and retained .by the fixed hook iii carried by the flexible and biased closure'.

Normally thegarment supporting hangermember 83 is nearest to partition 3i and the retaining hanger member 84 liesagainst thehanger r:member 83 although the crown'loop 95 of the former projects through opening 95 ,in the garment .concealing envelope "65. More particularly opening '96 `is at the uppermedial part of the backing `or 'body portion 'm and at `.thelower.medialpart .of the upperswingable iiap 1.4. Y

With the crown 95 projecting.throughopening 96, it maybe readily positioned and sustained by the hook A8I. 'Thereafter a garment not shown may .be readilyplaced lon the garmentesupporting hangermember 83 and neatly folded thereabout after which the swingable or hinged'retaining hanger member .8,4 is pivotally dropped onto the folded garment. Ifdesiredcross arm may be also utilized to sustain a garment. Subse- 4quently the wings and! areswung inwardly and locked, thus holding .the ,retaining hanger member 84 appropriatelyagainst the garment. Thereafter thelower .andupper flaps 'I3 .and 'I4 are swung against the vlocked `wings and interlocked. By Y.thearrangement disclosed, the garment is neatly confined in theenvelopewhich -in fact is sustained by thelimbsorshoulders QI of the retaining .hangermembera Thusvthe envelope Bis removably supported by the hanger arrangement 8D althoughthelatter is removably .carried .by the hookl or in Vother words by'lrthe biased closure 50.

With the envelopeclosedit is positioned within the compartment 38, Y.thus .expanding vthe latter to vcompensatefor the added vbulk of the folded. garment although at this time the margins 'i-l cooperate with theenvelope .to ,preclude-accidental withdrawal .thereof -through the lopening 54 bounded bythe fastening jaws 56. Subsequently the closure 55 which is :anintegral lpart Aof `the front panel' I2 is raisedtofullyconceal theenv elopeandtherider .6 2 ,is utilized. to..close.the slide fastenerijaws. Y v

Compartment 38 may be expanded if required by the use of the swingable drop bottom member 4 i The same holds true for compartment 39 in the utilization of the swingable spreader 42 and the case Il) may be fully closed by flap E' carrying a lug or keeper K locked by suitable latching means L and when the case is closed, handle H may be conveniently grasped to carry the case about as is well understood.

Various changes may be made in the construew tion and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein.

I claim:

In a carrying case wherein an envelope removably surrounds an article and is provided with a gap at a medial portion thereof and wherein hanger means in part projects through said gap and in part is removably disposed within said eni velope for sustaining said article, an outside flexible panel, an inside wall spaced from said panel, expandible and contractible gusset .means interconnecting said wall and panel and defining therewith a compartment to receive said envelope, said panel having spaced and vertically disposed marginal strips and upper and lower horizontally arranged marginal portions, said panel having spaced corner sections having lower curved margins merged with said upper marginal portion and with the upper parts of said strips; said upper and lower marginal portions, strips and curved margins defining a marginal rim having a relatively large opening with said vertically disposed strips being spaced apart a distance less than the length of said envelope, a flexible cover substantially complementary to said opening to provide access to said compartment and to said envelope i therein and integral with said lower marginal portion and removably interposed between said strips and upper marginal portion, disconnectible 6 l fastening means secured to said strips and to said upper marginal portion and to the side and upper marginal parts of said cover, said marginal strips and said sections cooperating with side marginal portions of said envelope to retain the latter in said compartment even though said cover is swung downwardly and outwardly and about said lower marginal portion, exible means bridging the top of said compartment and secured to said panel and wall, and holding means carried by said ilexible means for removably supporting said hanger, said strips and marginal portions cooperating with said holding means to retain said envelope within said compartment.

SAMUEL H. LIFI'ON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Australian Dec. 10, 1937 

